Allegan County, Michigan - Chapter 19: Inteknal Impkovemewts, Etc, 1880

Chapter 19: Inteknal Impkovemewts, Etc

Clinton and Kalamazoo River Canal - Provision for it in the System of 1837 - Preliminary Survey through Barry and Eaton Counties - Mr. Littlejohn's Survey - Navigation of the Kalamazoo - First Raft - Lumber- Vessels - The Flatboat Lines - First Steamboat - Other Steamers and Schooners - Ship-building at Saugatuck - Allegan and Marshall Railroad - Lawton and Grand Rapids Railroad - Kalamazoo, Allegan and Grand Rapids Railroad - The Original Name - First Articles filed - Change of Route - Change of Name - Road built to Allegan - Road built to Grand Rapids - Statistics of Traffic - The Grand Haven Railroad - The Three Original Organizations - Their Consolidation - Building of the Road - Road in Hands of a Receiver - The Sale - New Company - New Name - Statistics - Grand Rapids and Indinna Road - Time of Construction - Statistics - Chicago and West Michigan Road - The Original Name - Construction- Given up to Bondholders - Reorganization - New Name - General Information - Allegan and Southeastern Road - Quick Construction - Part of Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Road sold under Foreclosure - Reorganization and Changeof Name - Statistics - Grand River Valley Road - Chartered in 1836 - Long Postponement - Proposed Road from Battle Creek to Hastings - Given up - Revival of the Valley Road - Its Construction - Statistics.

The Proposed Clinton And Kalamazoo River Canal

Under the system of internal improvements adopted by the State in February, 1837, money was appropriated for the survey of a canal commencing near the mouth of the Clinton River, to terminate at or near the mouth of the Kalamazoo River; and also for the survey of the St. Joseph, Kalamazoo, and Grand Rivers, with a view to the use of the same by slack-water navigation. The prelirai- nary survey for the canal was made by the State engineer in the summer of 1837. The line started at the mouth of Clinton River, ran through Oakland County, touching the northwest corner of Ingham, and thence through Eaton, Barry, and Allegan Counties to the village of Allegan ; whence it was intended to use the river to its mouth.

Mr. F. J. Littlejohn was employed by the board of internal improvements, in the winter of 1837-38, to make a thorough survey of that portion of the line running from a " bottom-peg" placed by the State engineer on the west side of Barry County, near the north end of Gun Lake, to Allegan, and thence to the mouth of the Kalamazoo, and to make the necessary estimates regarding the same. The proper instruments were furnished by the board, and the work was both commenced and finished in February, 1838. When Mr. Littlejohn made his report to the State engineer, it was found that the result reached by him dififered but three-tenths of a foot from the preliminary survey of that official, although the latter was made in the summer and Mr. Littlejohn's in the winter, with two feet of snow on the ground. The point where the canal, according to the survey, was to reach the Kalamazoo was in the village of Allegan, at the north end of the north bridge across that river.

Uavigation On The Kalamazoo Eivbk

In the month of June, 1834, Oka Town and Abijah Chichester ran a raft containing thirty thousand feet of lumber from Pine Creek (where the first saw-mill in Allegan County was located) to the mouth of Kalamazoo River, where it was transferred to William G. Butler, who had bought it. They were obliged to hire an Indian to pilot them back through the woods. This was the first raft which was taken down the river.

Vessels were soon after constructed along the lake-shore for carrying lumber. Among the first builders was James McLaughlin, who built the " Crook." The "Octavia" was soon built by Carter & Co. at Singapore. In 1841, David Walbridge, from Buffalo, N. Y., came to Kalamazoo and commenced buying wheat. He established a line of flatboats, on which the grain was carried down the river, being transferred at Saugatuck to sail-vessels bound for BuiFalo. In the spring of 1842 he leased a grist-mill, and carried on an extensive business in grinding flour, which followed the same course to the Eastern market.

The first flatboat of any size on the Kalamazoo was the " Pioneer," built by James D. Bush, of Allegan, for Milo Winslow. This vessel carried one thousand barrels of flour, and twelve men were necessary to pole it up and down the river. The "Great Western" employed ten men, and the "Tippecanoe" eight. There were several others, but these were the most important. These boats were in active operation on the river until the opening of the Michigan Central Railroad, in 1846, furnished a quicker and more convenient means of transportation.

The steamer " Adelaide" was built in the village of Allegan, below the Littlejohn bridge, about the year 1847. The machinery was that previously used in the " Maid of the Mist" at Niagara Falls. Captain Elliott was the commander. It ran from Allegan to Saugatuck one day and back the next, for about two years, and was then sold at Chicago.

J. D. Bush built the " Helen Mar" at Allegan about 1854, and subsequently ran it five or six years on the river. It was finally dismantled. All its machinery was built at Allegan except the boiler, and is now in use at Vosburg's mill, at that village. Two barges were built at Allegan about the same time, named " Adam" and " Eve." They were intended for towing on the lake, and were the first experiment of the kind.

The schooner " Lavinda" was built at Allegan in 1861, and was used on the lake, running from Saugatuck to Chicago. It is still in use. The steamer " Aunt Betsey" was built for Ira Chafiee, George Stone, and J. C. McMillan. It plied on the river for about five years, and was sold to parties at St. Paul, Minn.

In the year 1867 the propeller "Ira Chaff'ee" was built at Allegan for the lake trade. It was owned by Ira Chaffee, Frederick May, E. B. Costin, and George Butcher. The same year the schooner " White Oak" was built at Allegan for the lake trade, and the next season the propeller " Dunbar" was built. In 1865 the barge " Utell" was built at Allegan. It ran on the river for a time, but was finally sold to parties at Grand Rapids.

Ship-building has ceased at Allegan; but is still energetically carried on at Saugatuck. Numerous tugs and lumberbarges have been built there, besides several propellers and large grain-carrying vessels. The year 1879 was an extremely busy one for Saugatuck ship-builders, and the business is still increasing there.

Allegan And Marshall Kailkoad

ALLEGAN AND MARSHALL KAILKOAD. The Allegan and Marshall Railroad Company was incorporated on the 4th day of March, 1836. The directors residing in Allegan County were John R. Kellogg and Alexander L. Ely. It was hoped that the building of a road from Marshall to Allegan would lead to a choice of this line to the lake for the Central Railroad, the western terminus of which had not then been determined on. An extremely circuitous route was surveyed, which passed from Marshall through Battle Creek, Comstock, and Bronson (now Kalamazoo) to Allegan. Cars, and even cushions for the seats, were purchased, for the latter of which suit was brought several years afterwards, but no part of the road was ever graded.

Lawton And Grand Rapids Railroad

LAWTON AND GRAND RAPIDS RAILROAD. The next projected railroad was from Lawton, on the Michigan Central, through Paw Paw and Allegan, to Grand Rapids, about 1848. F. J. Littlejohn made a preliminary survey, but no work was ever commenced. The project was defeated by the efforts made at an early day to locate the route of the Grand Eapids and Indiana road from Kalamazoo through Allegan to Grand Eapids. This latter route was also surveyed, and followed the previous line from Allegan to Grand Rapids. This project also failed for the time, and when it was revived several years afterwards a route was chosen ten or eleven miles east of Allegan village, as appears in the sketch of the Grand Eapids and Indiana road.

Kalamazoo, Allegan And Grand Eapids

Articles of association were filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Michigan in the spring of 1868 for the organization of the Kalamazoo and Allegan Railroad Company. The directors belonging to Allegan County were Joseph Fisk, of Allegan, and Wilson C. JJdsell, of Otsego. A preliminary survey was made, which passed through the townships of Gun Plain, Otsego, Watson, and Allegan. A map of the line was filed at the register's office on the 7th of May, 1868, but a change of route was made, and a new map was filed on the 4th of August of the same year. This change was on sections 22, 24, 27, and 28, in the village of Allegan.

During the summer of 1868 the articles of association were amended so as to change the name to the Kalamazoo, Allegan and Grand Rapids Railroad Company, and providing for the extension of the road from Allegan to Grand Eapids. The map of the survey of the northern portion of the line is dated in September, 1868, and was filed on the 21st of October following. The extension passes through the townships of Allegan, Monterey, Hopkins, and Dorr. The tract was completed, and the fir.st train of cars ran into Allegan on Thanksgiving-day, Nov. 23, 1868. On the same day work was commenced on the northern portion, and the first train of cars reached Grand Eapids on the 1st of March, 1869. On the 1st of October of the same year the road was leased to the Michigan Southern Eailroad Company, by whom it is still run, being known as the Kalamazoo Division of that road.

The length of the road from Kalamazoo to Allegan is twenty-six miles, and from Allegan to Grand Rapids thirtythree miles, making a total of fifty-nine miles. The cost of construction of the road was $1,450,000. The equipment is owned by the Michigan Southern Company. The receipts during the year 1878 from transportation of passengers was $43,082.67 ; from "that of freight, $73,436 ; of mails, $4612.85 ; of express matter, $504.66, - making the total earnings $122,546.18. The expenses of operating the road for the same time were $101,917.28. The funded debt of the company amounts to $840,000.

The Grand Haven Railroad

The company that now operates this road had its origin in three organizations, - the Allegan and Holland, the Holland and Grand Haven, and the Muskegon and Ferrysburg Railroad Companies. The first two were organized in the spring of 1869, but accomplished little even in the preliminary work of location and survey. The last-named company had built a road between Muskegon and Ferrysburg, which was then in operation. During the summer of

1869 the three companies were consolidated under the name of the Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Company. The stock was sold to parties interested in the Pennsylvania system of roads, and who also controlled the Grand Rapids and Indiana road. The survey was adopted by the company on the 19th day of August, 1869, and was filed in the register's office of Allegan County on the 7th of September following. The route passed through the townships of Allegan, Heath, Overisel, and Fillmore, in the county of Allegan.

Upon the completion of the Kalamazoo, Allegan and Grand Rapids road the contractors placed their men immediately upon this work. It was prosecuted with great vigor, and on the 1st of July, 1870, was opened from Allegan to Muskegon, - a distance of fifty-seven and a half miles.

The company defaulted on the interest of its bonds in 1873 and 1874, and the road passed into the hands of D. P. Clay, of Grand Eapids, as receiver. It was operated by him till the 1st of October, 1878, when it was sold on the foreclosure of its mortgage bonds and purchased by the bondholders' committee. A new company was then organized under the name of the Grand Haven Eailroad, by which the road has been operated from that time till the present.

The cost of the construction of the road and its equipment was $960,000. The new company, upon its organization in October, 1878, owed debts to the amount of $160,000. The receipts for the carriage of passengers during the year previous to the last annual report was $22,223.07 ; for that of freight, $27,780.31 ; of mails, $3250.45; of express matter, $1565; of miscellaneous articles, $878.47. The receipts other than earnings were $11,615, making a total of $67,312.40.

There are employed on the road three locomotives, weighing over twenty tons each ; three eight-wheel passengercars, one express- and baggage-car, thirty box freight-cars, and sixty-six platform-cars. The Ward air-brake is used on the passenger-cars.

The number of passengers carried during the year 1878 was 40,376. The total number of tons of freight carried over the road was 25,223, distributed as follows : Grain and flour, 1727 ; provisions, 322 ; other agricultural products, 422 ; lumber and forest products, 19,479 ; coal, 131 ; plaster, 160; petroleum, 52; pig- and bloom-iron, 23 ; other iron and castings, 1 14 ; stone and brick, 82 ; manufactures, 873 ; merchandise and other articles not previously mentioned, 1830. The United States Express Company docs business on this road, paying five dollars per day for the use of an apartment in a car.

Grand Rapids And Indiana Railroad

This road extends from Fort Wayne, Ind., to Petoskey, Mich., - a distance of three hundred and twenty-two miles. The first section, from Grand Eapids to Cedar Springs, was opened for traffic Dec. 23, 1867, and the last one, from Fife Lake to Petoskey, in May, 1874. The portion from Kalamazoo to Grand Eapids, running through the county of Allegan, was first opened for business in Octo-

Internal Improvements, Etc

The total expenses of operating the road during that year were $958,170.80 ; the total earnings for the same time, $1,200,629.19. There are employed on the road seventeen locomotives weighing over thirty tons each, twenty others which weigh over twenty tons each, and one other which weighs over ten tons. There are ten twelve-wheel and eleven eight-wheel passenger-cars, ten express- and baggage-cars, three hundred and forty-seven box freight-cars, seven hundred and thirty-six platform-cars, and twenty-one conductors' waycars. Thirteen locomotives and thirty-two passenger-cars are equipped with the Westinghouse air-brake.

The number of tons of through freight was 241,962, and of local freight 141,348, distributed as follows : Grain, 39,160; flour, 5324; provisions, 2038; other agricultural products, 13,460 ; lumber and forest products, 239,830 ; coal, 11,449; plaster, 2785; salt, 2931; petroleum, 900; railroad iron (iron and steel rails), 1993 ; pig- and bloomiron, 507 ; other iron and castings, 2544 ; stone and brick, 3897 ; manufactures, 13,835 ; merchandise and other articles not previously mentioned, 42,757.

The United States Express Company transacts business on this road, paying forty-five dollars and forty-five cents per day i'or the transmission of four thousand pounds of freight.

Chicago And- West Michigan Raileoad

In May, 1869, a company was organized at St. Joseph, Berrien Co., under the general law of the State, called the Chicago and Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Company, for the purpose of building a railroad from New Bufiklo northward along the western shore of Lake Michigan. The work was begun at St. Joseph, the grading was rapidly carried southward from there, and on the 28th of January, 1870, the road was completed to New Bufialo, and subsequently it was built northward from St. Joseph, being completed to Grand Junction, Van Buren Co., on the 28th of February, 1871, and to Pentwater, its present terminus, on the 1st of January, 1872. The last-named portion runs through the townships of Lee, Clyde, Manlius, and Fillmore, in Allegan County. The distance traversed in that county is twenty-six miles.

The road was managed by the original company until 1874, when it was given up to the bondholders. They operated it about three years, and then foreclosed their mortgage. On the sale most of the stock passed into the hands of citizens of Boston, who organized themselves into a new company, by which the road has since been controlled. The new company adopted the name of the Chicago and

The cost of construction was $6,225,802, and that of equipment $899,220. The funded debt of the company amounts to $6,630,000, the unfunded to $2,517,218. The receipts from carriage of passengers during the year 1878 (the one covered by the last report of the railroad commissioners) was $175,921 ; from that of freights, $333,809 ; from other sources, $28,293 ; total, $538,023. The entire running expenses for the same period were $500,479.

There are employed on the road twenty-one locomotives weighing over thirty tons each, and five which weigh under that amount. There are three twelve-wheel and ten eightwheel passenger-cars, nine express- and baggage-cars, one hundred and fourteen box freight-cars, three hundred and seventy-six platform-cars, seven conductors' way-cars, and one pay-car.

The total number of tons of freight carried over the road during the year 1878 was 266,701, distributed as follows: Grain, 14,055 ; flour, 1949 ; other provisions, 1225 ; other agricultural products, 9673 ; lumber and other forest products, 153,563; coal, 2585; plaster, 12,000; railroad iron, 189 ; pig- and bloom-iron, 11,050 ; ores, 19,499 ; stone and brick, 2812 ; merchandise and other articles not previously enumerated, 38,151.

The American Express Company sends its freight over the road, paying for the privilege one and a half times the price of first-class railroad freight.

Allegan And Southeastern Kailkoad

This road was built in ninety days by Joseph Fisk, the contractor, who completed it in September, 1871. It was then a section eleven and a half miles long (from Allegan to Monteith, in the township of Martin), belonging to the Mansfield, Coldwater and Lake Michigan Railroad Company. The intention of that company was to construct a road from Mansfield, Ohio, to Allegan, Mich., but the portion from Allegan to Monteith was all that was ever completed in this State.

The property and franchises of the Mansfield company were sold under the foreclosure of its mortgage bonds on the 28th of August, 1877, and on the 13th of December following the purchasers subscribed to new articles of association, changing the name to the Allegan and Southeastern Railroad Company, and fixing the amount of the capital stock at $1,500,000. These new articles were filed in the office of the Secretary of State of Michigan on the 22d of January, 1878. The road has been operated by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Company since its completion, and a formal lease was made to that company on the 5th of March, 1879.

The cost of construction and equipment was $250,700. The company has no funded or unfunded debt. The revenue received from passengers during the year 1878 was $3568.99, and that from freights $2593.27. The receipts other, than earnings were $6192.11. The total expenses of operating the road during that year were $5294.89. The rolling-stock is furnished by the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad Company. The total number of tons of freight carried over the road in 1878 was

7418, distributed as follows : Grain, 195 ; flour, 155 ; provisions, 36 ; other agricultural products, 265 ; lumber and other forest products, 5730 ; coal, 12 ;' plaster, 50 ; salt, 24 ; petroleum, 2 ; railroad iron, other iron, and castings, 41 ; stone and brick, 2 ; manufactures, 276 ; merchandise and other articles not previously enumerated, 618. The express business on this road is done by the United States Express Company.

Grand Kiver Valley Kaileoad

Through the exertions of Amos Root, of Jackson, a charter for a company to build a railroad from Jackson to Grand Rapids, to be known as the Grand River Valley Railroad, was granted by the State Legislature on the 4th of March, 1836. The route was through the townships of Castleton, Hastings, Rutland, Irving, and Thornapple, in Barry County, following the valley of the Thornapple River along its entire course in that county. The capital stock of the proposed company was $1,000,000. The road was to be commenced within three years, twenty miles were to be constructed in five years, and the whole was to be finished within ten years from the passage of the act of incorporation ; otherwise that act was to become void.

No work was done during the prescribed ten years, but the charter was extended from time to time, and about 1866 the matter was again earnestly agitated. At that time the question of building a road from Hastings to Battle Creek was under discussion. Subscriptions had been obtained in support of the project, and a preliminary .survey had been made. The line passed, in Barry County, through Hastings, Castleton, Maple Grove, and Assyria. The citizens of Battle Creek were not very earnest in favor of the work, however, and it was finally given up. But in the mean while the people of Barry County had become excited on the railroad question, and Amos Root, the original projector of the Grand River Valley road, came into the county and urged the construction of that work. Subscriptions were given to aid the project, bonds were issued by the townships of Barry County, and after the survey was completed work was commenced in the spring of 1867. On the 26th of January, 1869, regular trains commenced running from Jackson to Nashville, and on the 22d of February of the same year the road was completed to Hastings, when trains began to run regularly to that place. AVork was pressed forward on the northern portion of the route, and in the spring of 1870 the road was completed to Grand Rapids. It was then leased to the Michigan Central Railroad Company, by whom it was equipped and has since been managed. It is known as the Grand River Valley' Division of that road.

The cost of the construction of the road was $2,840,031 . The funded debt of the company amounts to $1,500,000, which constitutes their total liability. The receipts for the transportation of passengers during the year previous to the last report were $114,722.03; for that of freight, $147 ,462.- 29 ; of mails, $8537.40 ; of express matter, $1989.31 ; miscellaneous, $3920.70; total, $276,631.73. The running expenses for the same period were $245,261.73. The number of passengers carried during the year was 144,326. The number of tons of freight carried over the road was

115,793, distributed as follows : Grain, 38,186 ; flour, 3550 ; provisions, 383 ; other agricultural products, 3230 ; lumber and forest products, 28,549 ; plaster, 10,043 ; salt, 2431 ; merchandise, 29,421. The American Express Company send their freight over this road.